Packing for fragile articles



Aug. 21, 1951 E. L. SHEPARD PACKING FOR FRAGILE ARTICLES 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. 25, 1946 j I l II INVENTOR.

ERA/E57 L. SHEPRPD A TTORZVEY A g. 2 1951 E. L. SHEPARD PACKING FOR FRAGILE ARTICLES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed. Sept. 25, 1946 INVENTOR. ERNEST L. SHEPARD ATTORNEY Aug. 21, 1951 E. L. SHEPARD 2,564,729

- PACKING FOR FRAGILE ARTICLES Filed Sept. 23, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. ERNEsT L. SHEPARD BY f A TTOFZNEY 1951 E. L. SHEPARD 2,564,729

PACKING FOR FRAGILE ARTICLES Filed Sept. 25, 1946 4 Sheets- Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

ERNEST L. SHEPARD BY A T TO RNEY Patented Aug. 21, 1951 PACKING FOR FRAGILE ARTICLES Ernest L. Shepard, Fairfield, Maine, assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Canal National Bank of Portland, and William B. Nulty, both of Portland, Maine, trustees Application September 23, 1946, Serial No. 698,811

23 Claims.

This invention relates to packing to be used within a conventional shipping case for protecting shipments of elongated fragile articles, such as fluorescent light tubes or the like, against damage in transit, and has for its main object to provide an inexpensive and conveniently usable packing unit or sheet for safely packing a plurality of such articles in superimposed layers within the shipping case.

Another object is to provide packing units or sheets which when filled with elongated articles, such as tubes, and stacked in superimposed layers within a conventional shipping case will interlock with each other in such a manner that endwise or sidewise shifting movements of the several layers of sheets and tubes relative to one another within the case is prevented and the several layers of sheets and tubes become, in effect, a rigidly packed unit which carries far more safely in the shipping case than where the tubes are free to shift relative to one another.

A further object is to provide a packing unit or sheet of such design as to fully protect the ends of the tubes against injury, and particularly the contact pins at the ends of the tubes where the tubes are of the type that are equipped with such pins.

Other objects and advantages will appear as this description proceeds.

In attaining my objects, I prefer to construct my packing unit as a sheet of moulded pulp comprising two end sections and a center section hingedly connecting said end sections so that when the sheet is overfolded upon itself the end sections provide the top and bottom walls and the center section provides the end wall of a three-sided packing unit.

The two end sections are so contoured as to provide on the inner face of the sheet alined troughs or half pockets which when the sheet is overfolded upon itself register with each other to provide complete pockets which encircle and grip the walls of an inserted layer of tubes. The two end sections are furthermore so contoured as to provide on the outer face of the sheet spaced locking formations which when a stack of sheets and their inserted layers of tubes are assembled within the shipping case interlock with similar locking formations on adjacent faces of adjacent sheets in the stack to lock the assembly of sheets and tubes as a rigidly packed unit within the case.

The center section of each sheet is so contoured as to provide on the inner face of the sheet opposite the half-pockets of each end sheet section spaced recesses within which the ends of the tubes, or their projecting pins, are received and protected against injury when the sheet is overfolded upon itself, these recesses furnishing on the outer face of the sheet projecting shock absorbing bumpers or cushions for contact with the end walls of the shipping case.

In using my sheets, I prefer to proceed as follows: I first place two open sheets on the bottom of the case adjacent the ends thereof, and then insert the end portions of a layer of tubes in the half pockets in the bottom wall of each sheet with the tube ends, or their contact pins, partially projecting over the cushionin recesses in the end wall sections of the sheets. I then close each sheet upon the layer of tubes by overfolding the top wall upon the bottom wall so that the half pockets in the top wall register with those in the bottom wall to thereby completely enclose and tightly grip the end portions of the layer of tubes and so that the protective recesses on the inner face of the end wall of each sheet enclose the ends of the tubes, or their contact pins, and the bumpers furnished by said recesses contact with the end walls of the shipping case. I next superimpose upon the layer of tubes so packed other identical packing sheets and other layers of tubes until the shipping case is filled with the desired number of tubes. The tubes in the several layers act as keys and the locking formations of the stacked sheets interlock with one another to prevent relative shifting movements of the sheets and tubes within the case. Thus the assembly of sheets and tubes becomes in effect a rigidly packed unit.

It will be noted that each packing sheet is of sufficient overall length to enclose the end portions of a layer of tubes for a substantial distance, but each sheet however, does not need to extend the entire length of the tubes. Instead, where the tubes are unusually long, other packing units may 'be used intermediate of the ends of the tubes. Such intermediate units may consist simply of the two end sections which constitute the top and bottom walls of the sheet just described, the center section of such sheet being omitted in molding or being subsequently torn off, as desired.

As shown, each packing sheet is contoured to provide pockets for accommodating a layer of six tubes but obviously may be contoured to receive a greater or lesser number of tubes. Alternatively, the sheet may be scored or otherwise weakened along predetermined longitudinal lines to enable sections thereof to be readily torn off and used for packing a lesser number of tubes.

In the accompanying drawings wherein I have 3 illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away, showing a conventional shipping case containing a complement of fluorescent light tubes packed in superimposed, interlocked layers b means of packing sheets or units in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of my packing sheets or units, opened, and as seen from the inside;

Fig. 3 is a similar view of such sheet or unit, closed, and as seen from the outside;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of one of my packing sheets or units, closed upon a layer of tubes, and particularly illustrating the cushion formations for protecting the ends of the tubes or the contact pins at the ends of the tubes.

I have indicated generally at II] a packing sheet, or unit, in accordance with my invention. Such sheet may be made of any desired material and is preferably made of molded pulp or the like. It is shaped to provide two end sections I I and I2 which are substantially coextensive with each other and an intermediate or central section I3 hingedly connecting said sections II and I2 and constituting an end closure when the sheet is overfolded upon itse f along the spaced transverse lines of folds 36 and 31 (see Fig. 2). When so overfolded, the end sections II and I2 become the bottom and top, walls, respectively, and the center section I3 becomes the end wall of a packing unit which is open at one end and closed at its other end (see Fig. 3)

The inner faces of the sheet sections II and I2 constituting the bottom and top wall portions of such packing unit are contoured to provide a pluraity of spaced, longitudinally extending, alined troughs or half-pockets I4'and I5, respectively, which when the sheet is overfolded upon itself as shown in Fig. 3 register with one another to provide a plurality of parallel tube-encircling pockets within which the end portions of a layer of tubes T are received and gripped.

The half-pockets of each sheet section H and I 2 are spaced apart from each other intermediate of the side edges of the sheet by a plurality of spaced, longitudinally extending, alined hollow formations or ribs I6 and I1, respectively (see Fig. 2). Ribs I6 rise from the inner face of sheet section I I and ribs I7 rise from the inner face of sheet section I2, considering the sheet as shown in Fig. 2; and inasmuch as ribs I 6 and I! are alined with each other it results that when the sheet is overfolded upon itself, as shown in Fig. 3, the ribs I6 and I! register with and abut against each other. Preferably the ribs I6 and I I are V-shaped in cross section, but have apices wide enough to furnish adequate abutment surfaces to one another (see Fig. 3). Being hollow, said ribs furnish on the outer faces of their respective sheet sections V-shaped depressions I8 and I9. Ribs I6 and I1 are closed at their inner ends as indicated at 20 and 2I (see Fig. 2) and are open at their outer ends as shown, but may be closed.

The outer or side walls of the outermost halfpockets of each sheet section II and I2 are furnished by alined upstanding edge formations 2-2 and 23, respectively, at the side edges'of the sheet (see Fig. 2). Formations 22 and 23 are of the same height as ribs I6 and I1 and register with and abut against each other when the sheet is overfolded upon itself.

The bottoms of the half-pockets I4 of sheet section II, as viewed interiorly of the sheet, are provided with longitudinally extending depressions 24 (see Fig. 2) which are interrupted at spaced intervals by transversely extending ribs 25. The depressions .24 appearon the outer face of sheet section II as projections and the ribs 25 appear as depressions.

The bottoms of the half-pocket I5 of sheet section I2, as viewed interiorly of the sheet, are provided with longitudinally extending raised formations 28 (see Fig. 2) which are interrupted at spaced intervals by transversely extending grooves 29. The raised formations 28 appear on the outer face of the sheet section I2 as depressions and the grooves 29 appear as ribs (see Fig. 3).

Extending upwardly from the half-pockets I4 of sheet section I I for a substantial distance along the side walls 22 and the ribs I5 are oppositely disposed inclined or wedge-shaped tube-gripping lugs 32. The apices of the ribs IS and I! and the tops of the side edges 22 and 23 of the sheet sections II and I2, as viewed in Fig. 2, are interrupted by one or more series of transversely alined notches 3'4 and 35, respectively, which appear on the outer faces of said sheet sections as connecting or tie ribs. Preferably although not necessarily, notches 34 are alined with ribs 25 of sheet section II and notches 35 are alined with grooves 29 of sheet section I2 so as to produce transversely across said sections II and I2 one or more alined, but discontinuous, stiffening reinforcements.

At the side edges 22 and 23 of said sheet sections II and I2 the material of the sheet at said notches 34 and 35 projects beyond the inclined sides of the outermost tube encircling pockets 2. distance sufficient (see Fig 4) to function as bumpers for cushioning the contact of said side edges against the side walls of the shipping case C.

The center section I3 of sheet I0 is contoured to provide on the inner face of the sheet a plurality of spaced recesses 38 alined with and separating the half pockets I4 and I5 from each other. On the outer face of section I3, recesses 38 appear as cushioning projections for contact with the end walls of the shipping case (see Fig. 1). Recesses 38 receive and protect the ends of the tubes, and/or the contact pins 39 of such tubes if the tubes are of the type which have such pins (see Fig. 5).

Referring to Figs. 1 and 4 wherein I have shown a conventional shipping case C filled with its complement of tubes T, it will be noted that the tubes are supported at their ends in superimposed layers by vertical stacks of my folded packing sheets Hi.- If desired, and as also shown in Fig. 1, the tubes may be supported between their ends by intermediate packing material consisting simply of the sections II and I2 of a packing sheet, section I3 having been torn off.

It will be further noted that each tube is gripped or wedged in the pocket defined by the registering half-pockets I4 and I5-of the overfolded sheet along a plurality of lines of contact. In the half-pockets Idof the sheet section II, the inclined side walls of the ribs I'G grip the sides of the tubes along two opposite lines of contact and tend to space the tube from the bottom proper of the-half-pocket. .The oppositely disposed pairs of lugs SZsupplement such line contact by tightly gripping the side walls of the tubes along two opposite but shorter lines of contact. Thus in each half-pocket M, the tube is gripped along four lines of contact.

In the registering half-pockets l5 of the opposite sheet section [2, the inclined side walls of the ribs ll likewise grip the sides of the tubes along two opposite lines of contact and the ribs 28 contact the top surfaces of the tubes along relatively broad lines of bearing. Thus in each half-pocket 15, the tube is gripped along three lines of contact.

It will be further noted that in a stack of sheets the ribs and depressions on the outer faces of one sheet interlock with the corresponding depressions and ribs on the outer faces of the sheets next above and below in the stack so as to assist in restraining the sheets and their inserted tubes against relative shifting movement within the case.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is obvious that many modifications thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A packing unit consisting of a single sheet of molded pulp of substantially uniform thickness having two end sections and an intermediate section, said end sections being foldable along spaced parallel lines of fold relative to said intermediate section to form a packing unit having spaced top and bottom walls formed by said end sections and an end closure Wall formed by said intermediate section, each end section having spaced parallel hollow substantially V-shaped ribs extending longitudinally thereof and forming on its inner face half-pockets, the walls of said longitudinal ribs being connected by material constituting transverse tie ribs when viewed from the outer face, the half-pockets of one end section being alined withthose of the other end section and spaced therefrom by the material of said intermediate section, and the half pockets of the respective end sections registering with each other when the sheet is overfolded upon itself to thereby form complete article-receiving pockets which are closed at one end by the intermediate section of the sheet and are open at their opposite end, and the apices of the ribs abutting each other when the sheet is overfolded.

2. The packing unit of claim 1 wherein the inner face of the intermediate section of the sheet is contoured to provide spaced individual recesses in line with the ends of the articles inserted in the article-receiving pockets.

3. The packing unit of claim 1 wherein the inner face of the intermediate section of the sheet is contoured to provide spaced individual recesses in line with the ends of the articles inserted in the article-receiving pockets and wherein said contourings on the outer face of said intermediate section project outwardly as cushioning elements.

4. The packing unit of claim 1 wherein there is a row of such tie ribs in transverse alinement adjacent to the open end of each end section.

5. The packing unit of claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of rows of transversely alined tie ribs. 7

6. The packing unit of claim 1 wherein transverse ribs are located in the top and bottom walls of the half-pockets and are in alinement with the tie ribs.

7. Packing material for engaging the under portions of a layer of tubes, consisting of a sheet section contoured to provide a plurality of spaced parallel half-pockets extending longitudinally thereof, said half-pockets being spaced apart from one another by upwardly extending hollow ribs of inverted V-shape which furnish the side walls of the half-pockets, and the side walls of said ribs being provided with oppositely disposed wedge-like formations for gripping the side walls of the tubes inserted in said half-pockets.

8. The packing of claim 7 in which the bottom walls of the half-pockets include portions extending below the plane of the sheet section and providing on the exterior face of the sheet section projections adapted to interlock with depressions formed in the exterior face of a subjacent sheet section.

9. A packing for engaging the upper portions of a layer of tubes, consisting of a sheet section contoured to provide a plurality of spaced I parallel half-pockets extending longitudinally thereof, said half-pockets being spaced apart from one another by downwardly extending hollow ribs of V-shape which furnish the side walls of the half-pockets, the top walls of said half-pockets having portions extending below the plane of the sheet section and providing wide and relatively long projections adapted to bear upon the tops of a layer of tubes inserted in said half-pockets, and said projections on the exterior face of said sheet section furnishing depressions adapted to interlock with projections formed on the exterior face of a superadjacent sheet section.

10. A shipping package, comprising a shipping case, a plurality of elongated fragile articles, and two stacks of packing units for supporting said articles near their ends in superimposed layers within the case, each packing unit consisting of a sheet having two end sections and an intermediate section, said end sections being foldable relative to said intermediate section to form a packing unit having spaced top and bottom walls formed by said end sections and adapted to be disposed parallel to the bottom wall of the case and an end closure wall formed by said intermediate section and adapted to 'be disposed against an end wall of the case, each end section having spaced parallel contourings extending longitudinall thereof and forming on its inner face a plurality of half-pockets, the half-pockets of one end section being alined with those of the other end section so as to register therewith when the sheet is overfolded upon itself and thereby form complete article-receiving pockets which are closed at one end by said intermediate section of the sheet and open at their opposite end whereby the layers of articles are spaced from each other at their ends by double thicknesses of packing material.

11. The package of claim 10 wherein the outer faces of the end sections of each sheet within the half-pocket areas thereof are provided with depressions and raised surfaces, respectively, which interlock with corresponding raised surfaces and depressions in the outer faces of the end sections of sheets arranged above and below in the case to lock the stack of sheets and their inserted layers of articles as a rigidly packed assembly within the shipping case.

12. The package of claim 10 wherein the intermediate section of each sheet is contoured on its inner face to provide recesses alined with the ends of a layer of articles to be packed and wherein said contourings on the outer face of said sheet section provide bumpers or cushions for spacing the sheet from the adjacent end wall of the shipping case.

13. A packing unit for packing a layer of tubes,

arcane 7i rods or like. elongated articles; consisting of? a single sheet of molded pulp of substantially uniform thickness having two end sections andsan intermediate section, said end sections being foldable relative to said intermediate section'to form a packing unit consisting of spaced top and bot tom walls and an end wall, each end section having on its inner face a plurality of spaced parallel hollow ribs extending longitudinally thereof and forming on the inner faces of said sections spaced parallel half-pockets which register with each other when the sheet is overfolded upon itself and provide complete article receiving pockets which are closed at one end by the intermediate section of the sheet and are open at their opposite end, the'ribs of each section being alined with the ribs of the complemental'section and the ribs of both sections being of a depth to abut each other when the sheet is overfolded, the bottom walls of the half pockets of the bottomsection having portions extending below the plane of said section and providing on the exterior face of said section projections adapted to interlock with depressions formed in the exterior face of a subj'acent sheet section, the top walls of the half pockets of the top section having longitudinally extending portions located within the half-pocket'areas of said section and providing projections adapted to bear upon the top surfaces of a layer of articles enclosed within half pockets of said top section and said projections on the exterior face of said top section furnishing depressions adapted to interlock with corresponding projections on the exterior face of a superposed sheet section.

14. A packing unit for packing a layer of tubes, rods or like elongated articles, consisting of a single sheet of molded pulp of substantially uniform thickness having two end sections and an intermediate section, said end sections being foldable relative to said intermediate section to form a packing unit consisting of spaced top and bottom walls and an end wall, each end section having on its inner face a plurality of spaced parallel hollow ribs extending longitudinally thereof and forming on the inner faces of said sections spaced parallel half pockets which register with each other when the sheet is overfolded upon itself and provide complete article receiving pockets which are closed at one end by the intermediate section of the sheet and are open at their opposite end, the ribs of one section being alined with the ribs of the complemental section and the ribs of both sections being of a; depth to abut each other when the sheet is overfolded, the side walls of the ribs in the bottom section being provided with oppositely disposed'wedge-like formations for gripping the side walls of a layer of articles inserted in the half pockets of said section and the bottom walls of the half pockets of said section having portions extending below the plane of said section and providing on the exterior face of said section projections adapted to interlock with corresponding depressions formed in the exterior face of a subjacent sheet section, the top walls of the half pockets of the top section having longitudinally extending portions located within the half-pocket areas of said section and providing projections adapted to bear upon the top surfaces of a layer of articles enclosed within the half pockets of said top section and said projections on the exterior face of said top section furnishing depressions adapted to interlock with corresponding projections on the exterior face of a superposed sheet section.

15. Packing material forpacking a layer' of tubes, rods or like elongated-articles, comprising a pair of oppositely disposedltop and bottom sheet sections for engaging the top and bottom surfaces, respectively, of the articles in the layer, the sheet section whichengages. the under sides of thelayer of articles being contoured to provide a plurality of spaced parallel half pockets extending longitudinally thereof and spaced apart'from one another by upwardly extending hollow ribs which furnish the side walls of the half pockets, the bottom walls of the half-pockets in said bottom sheet section having depressions which extend below the plane of said section and provide on the exterior face thereof projections adapted to interlock with depressions formed in the exterior face of a subjacent sheet section, the sheet section which engages the upper sides of the layer of articles also being contoured to provide a plurality of spaced parallel half-pockets alined with the half-pockets of the bottom sheet and spaced apart from one another by downwardly extending hollow ribs which furnish the side walls of said half pockets in said upper sheet section,

the top walls of the half pockets of said upper sheet section having projections extending below the plane of said section and providing bearing surfaces for engaging the top surfaces of the layer of articles inserted within said half-pockets and said projections on the exterior face of said top section furnishing depressions adapted to interlock with corresponding projections'formed on the exterior face of a superposed sheet section.

16. Packing material for packing a layer of tubes, rods or like elongated articles, comprising a pair of oppositely disposed top and bottom sheet sections for engaging the top and bottom surfaces, respectively, of the articles in the layer, the sheet section which engages the under sides of the layer of articles being contoured to provide a plurality of spaced parallel half-pockets extending longitudinally thereof and spaced apart from one another by upwardly extending hollow ribs which furnish the side walls of the half pockets, the side walls of said ribs being provided with oppositely disposed wedge-like formations for gripping the side walls-of the articles inserted in said-half-pockets and the bottom walls of said half-pockets-having depressions which extend below the plane of said sheet section and provide on the exterior face thereof projections adapted to interlock with depressions formed in the exterior face of a subjacent sheet section, the sheet section which engages the upper. sides of the layer of articles also being contoured to provide a plurality of spaced parallel half-pockets alined with the half-pockets of the bottom sheet and spaced apartfrom one another by downwardly extending hollow ribs which furnish the side walls of said half-pockets in said upper sheet section, the top walls of the half-pockets of the said upper sheet section having projections extending below the plane of said section and providing bearing surfaces for engaging the top surfaces of the layer of articles inserted within said half-pockets and said projections on the exterior face of said top section furnishing depressions adapted to interlock with corresponding projections formed o the exterior face of a superposed sheet section. 17; A packing unit consisting of a single sheet of molded'pulp of substantially uniform thickness having two end sections and an intermediate section, said end sections being foldable relative to said intermediate section to form a packing unit having spaced top and bottom walls formed by said end sections and an end closure wall formed by said intermediate section, each end section being contoured to form on its inner face a plurality of spaced parallel longitudinally extending half-pockets, the half-pockets of one end section being alined with those of the other end section and spaced therefrom by the material of said in termediat section, and the half-pockets of the respective end sections registering with each other when the sheet is overfolded upon itself to thereby form complete article-receiving pockets which are closed at one end by the intermediate section of the sheet and are open at their opposite end, the outer faces of the end sections of the sheet within the half-pocket areas thereof, being provided with depressions and raised surfaces, respectively, adapted to interlock with corresponding raised surfaces and depressions in the outer faces of the end sections of duplicate sheets arranged above and below.

18. A packing unit consisting of a single sheet of molded pulp of substantially uniform thickness having two end sections and an intermediate section, said end sections being foldable along spaced parallel lines of fold relative to said intermediate section to form a packing unit having spaced top and bottom walls formed by said end sections and an end closure wall formed by said intermediate section, each end section having spaced parallel hollow substantially V-shaped ribs extending longitudinally thereof and forming on its inner face half-pockets, the walls of said longitudinal ribs being connected by material constituting transverse tie ribs when viewed from the outer face, the half-pockets of one end section being alined with those of the other end section and spaced therefrom by the material of said intermediate section, and the half pockets of the respective end sections registering with each other when the sheet is overfolded upon itself to thereby form complete article-receiving pockets which are closed at one end by the intermediate section of the sheet and are open at their opposite end, and the apices of the ribs abutting each other when the sheet is overfolded, the side walls of the ribs of the sheet section which furnishes the bottom wall of the packing unit being provided with oppositely disposed wedge-like formations for gripping the side walls of articles inserted in the pockets formed by said ribs.

19. A packing unit consisting of a single sheet of molded pulp of substantially uniform thickness having two end sections and an intermediate section, said end sections being foldable along spaced parallel lines of fold relative to said intermediate section to form a packing unit having spaced top and bottom walls formed by said end sections and an end closure wall formed by said intermediate section, each end section having spaced parallel hollow substantially V-shaned ribs extending longitudinally thereof and forming on its inner face ha f-pockets, the walls of said longitudinal ribs being connected by material constituting transverse tie ribs when viewed from the outer face, the half-pockets of one end section being alined with those of the other end section and spaced therefrom by the material of said intermediate section, and the half pockets of the respective end sections registering with each other when the sheet is overfolded upon itself to thereby form complete article-receiving pockets which are closed at one end by the intermediate sections of the sheet and are open at their opposite end, and the apices of the ribs abutting each other when the sheet is overfolded, the inner face of the end section of the sheet which furnishes the top wall of the packing unit being contoured to provide in each half-pocket a broad, flat and relatively long projection for bearing against the top wall of an article inserted in such half-pocket.

20. A packing unit consisting of a single sheet of molded pulp of substantially uniform thickness having two end sections and an intermediate section, said end sections being foldable relative to said intermediate section to form a packing unit having spaced top and bottom walls formed by said end sections and an end closure wall formed by said intermediate section, each end section being contoured to form on its inner face a plurality of spaced parallel longitudinally extending half-pockets, the half-pockets of one end section being alined with those of the other end section and spaced therefrom by the material of said intermediate section, and the halfpockets of the respective end sections registering with each other when the sheet is overfolded upon itself to thereby form complete article-receiving pockets which are closed at one end by the intermediate section of the sheet and are open at their opposite nd, the contourings which provide the half-pockets in the bottom end section of the packing sheet including oppositely disposed wedge-like formations for gripping the side walls of articles inserted within said half-pockets.

21. A packing unit consisting of a single sheet of molded pulp of substantially uniform thickness having two end sections and an intermediate section, said end sections being foldable relative to said intermediate section to form a packing unit having spaced top and bottom walls formed by said end sections and an end closure wall formed by said intermediate section, each end section being contoured to form on its inner face a plurality of spaced parallel longitudinally extending half-pockets, the half-pockets of one end section being alined with those of the other end section and spaced therefrom by the material of said intermediate section, and the halfpockets of the respective end sections registering with each other when the sheet is overfolded upon itself to thereby form complete article-receiving pockets which are closed at one end by the intermediate section of the sheet and are open at their opposite end, the contourings which provide the half-pockets in the top end section of the packing sheet including longitudinally extending ribs within the areas of said half-pockets for overhead bearing uponthe upper surfaces of the articles inserted within said half-pockets.

22. A packing unit consisting of a single sheet of molded pulp of substantially uniform thickness having two end sections and an intermediate section, said end sections being foldable relative to said intermediate section to form a packing unit having spaced top and bottom walls formed by said end sections and an end closure wall formed by said intermediate section, each end section being contoured to form on its inner face a plurality of spaced parallel longitudinally extending half-pockets, the half-pockets of one end section being alined with those of the other end section and spaced therefrom by the material of said intermediate section, and the half-pockets of the respective end sections registering with each other when the sheet is overfolded upon itself to thereby form complete article-receiving pockets which are closed at one end by the intermediate section of the sheet and are open at their op osite end, the contourings which provide the halfpoekets in the bottom end section of the packing sheet including .oppositely disposed wedge-like formationsforgrippingthe sidewalls of articles inserted within said half-pockets and the contourings which providethe half-pockets in the top end section of the packing sheetincluding longitudinally extending .ribs withinlthe areas of-"said half -pockets for overhead bearing upon theupper surfaces ofothe articles inserted within said half-pockets.

-'23.-A packing unitforelongated articles, said .un-it consistingnof a, singlesheet of molded pulp of substantially uniform thickness having a pair of.=spaced parallel ioldlines dividing it into an intermediatesection :between the folds, and two endsections on theoutsideof the respective folds, asset of spaced parallel hollow substantially -V- shaped-interrupted ribs projecting out from one face of; the sheet and extending perpendicularly of: the fold lines but only along the end sections, said ribshavingl a height substantiallyflhalf the distance between-thefold lines for forming a set 12 of article-receiving elongated :pockets ,when the sheet isfolded on both fold lines to bring the upstanding ribs together, and .the apexportions of the V-shaped ribshavingzspaced depressed tie portions extendingtacross/above: said face of the sheet from one wall of the V-shaped ribs to the other, said depressedportions forming ribs when the sheet is viewed from its other face.

.ERNEST L. SHEPARD.

, REFERENCES CITED The following references aretof record in the file ofthis patent; J

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